Tyrese Maxey Sends Warning to Players Coming to Philadelphia: “Tough Place to Play”

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey spoke about Philly fans and how it feels to play in front of them.

Tyrese Maxey Sends Warning to Players Coming to Philadelphia: “Tough Place to Play”

Tyrese Maxey (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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Tyrese Maxey has been on an absolute tear this season. The guard is coming off a 34-point game double-double with 12 assists to his name as the Philadelphia 76ers won a closely fought match 139-136 in overtime against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on Tuesday night. The big three of the 76ers, including Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George, combined to score 85 points.

It was a big win for the 76ers as it propelled them to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-14 record as they seek a direct playoff qualification. Despite Ja Morant scoring a game-high 40 points, it could not prevent the Grizzlies from suffering their 18th loss of the season in 33 games. Following the disappointing loss, the Grizzlies sit at ninth in the Western Conference standings.

Both Embiid and George have missed a significant number of games already this season. But it was Tyrese Maxey who kept the club within the top six with his impressive performances. Maxey is third behind Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the scoring charts at the moment. The 76ers guard is currently averaging 30.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists and has featured in 29 out of 31 games so far.

The franchise have won three NBA championships in their but have not lifted the trophy in 42 years with their last one being in 1983. Their last NBA Finals appearance was in 2001 and their recent results have not been promising. Hence, the fans have been deprived of any success for a while now.

76ers fans are well known for being a tough crowd and have been caught booing at their own players several times. Some may say they are demanding of their players, while some may call it unreasonable and a lack of class. But Maxey has turned out to be a huge fan favorite this season.

Maxey sat down with former NBA player Austin Rivers for an interview and spoke about what it feels like to play in Philly.

I love it. It’s definitely a tough place to play. If you’re not tough, if you don’t have thick skin this is not the place for you. The fans going to hold you accountable but they if they love you, they love you.

If the big three of the 76ers can stay healthy, the club will fancy their chances in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Is Paul George the best third option in the NBA?

Once upon a time, Paul George was widely regarded as one of the best two-way players in the NBA. But injuries have taken a toll on the 76ers’ forward, and with the leap Maxey has shown this season, George is seen more as a third option for the club.

Paul George
Paul George (Image credits – Sportsnet)

Former NBA star and teammate Carmelo Anthony believes that George is the third-best option in the NBA during NBC’s broadcast of the NBA on Tuesday night.

[We had] a debate: Is PG the best third option out there in the NBA? I think PG is coming along, I think his health is getting better.

George seems to have adapted to his new role pretty well so far and is looking more than comfortable operating as a spot-up shooter. The 35-year-old is currently averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Philadelphia 76ers are blessed to have VJ Edgecombe

The 76ers have one of the strongest backcourt duos in the Eastern Conference this season. While Maxey has been playing at an MVP level, VJ Edgecombe has been the story of the 2025-26 season for the 76ers in his rookie season. The number three pick in the 2025 NBA draft is currently averaging 15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and four assists and has formed a formidable partnership with Maxey.

During his interview with Rivers, Maxey spoke about how Edgecombe left a strong impression on him and his teammates.

He’s cold. I don’t want to say cocky, but it’s a good cocky. He was trying to test me. We had a offseason workout, and I said I’ll be there at 6 AM for whoever wanna get busted. He didn’t say nothing, Trendon Watford was there. I’m on the court stretching, and at 5:58, I just see VJ Edgecombe walking onto the court.

The 20-year-old rookie is coming off a game-winning three in Tuesday’s overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The 76ers were blessed with the number three pick after a horrible 2024-25 campaign. He may not win the Rookie of the Year award, but he has a promising future ahead.

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